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SWINDON WILDCATS: Lyle highlights need for momentum

GOALTENDER Stevie Lyle is confident that Swindon Wildcats have the capability to create significant momentum in the second half of the EPL season.

The Link Centre team slipped out of the play-off places on Sunday and have not won back-to-back games since the end of November, but Lyle believes the turning point could arrive in the next nine days.

Swindon face a double-header with Sheffield this weekend before journeying to Telford on Tuesday, which they follow up with clashes against Milton Keynes and Guildford.

Head coach Ryan Aldridge stated that he had ‘massive concerns’ after Wildcats dropped out of the top eight and a meeting with players on Tuesday was designed to right the wrongs regarding Swindon’s on-ice displays.

And with 24 games left of the regular season, Lyle believes that matters can improve and says Wildcats have the quality to grab as many as 15 wins between now and the scheduled dates for the play-offs.

“These next three games are hopefully going to be our turning point,” said Lyle.

“There are a few teams that are only just above us right now and after next weekend we could be having a different conversation.

“I’ve had a look through the schedule and we have around 20-odd games left and we’re capable of putting 15 wins together between now and the end of the season.

“We’ve got a lot more depth now, it’s just about playing for that full 60 minutes.

“I think right now we’d take a midtable spot going into the play-offs.”

The former Basingstoke netminder has urged his teammates to be mentally stronger in adversity as he believes reacting positively to conceding goals is key to an upturn in form.

“Whenever we do make a mistake at the moment we seem to get scored against,” said Lyle.

“When we have one or two goals against us we automatically seem to think that we’re going to lose, but it’s a 60-minute game and anything can happen.

“Looking back on Sunday (when Swindon lost 6-3 in Manchester) they did have a lot of lucky bounces and when you’re a winning team those bounces go for you, but we are hit and miss right now.”

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